India’s captain Rohit Sharma downplayed the idea that playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai offers his team an advantage. He pointed out that while they play in the same stadium, the pitch varies each time. Each match brings challenges, so they have to adjust every time.

India refused to play in Pakistan because of political issues, so all their games were scheduled in the UAE. Other teams had to travel between different cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, facing changing conditions. However, Rohit made it clear that Dubai’s pitches are not always the same. 

The team does not know what kind of pitch they will get in the semi-final, so they need to adjust. Even though India has played well in Dubai, winning eight out of nine ODIs, the unpredictable conditions keep them on their toes.

India prepares for semi-final against Australia

India dominated the group stage, winning all three of their matches and are now set to face Australia in the semi-final. Notably, Australia’s last ODI in Dubai was back in 2019, while South Africa hasn’t played there since 2013.

The venue for the final depends on the outcome of the semi-final. If India wins, the final will be held in Dubai. 

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India secured their ICC Champions Trophy semifinal spot with a 44-run win over New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 02. Reserved spinner Varun Chakravarthy stole the spotlight with a five-wicket haul (fifer) that knocked down New Zealand’s chase.

This win not only sealed India’s place in the knockout stage but also witnessed star player Virat Kohli’s milestone. He became the seventh Indian cricketer to play 300 ODIs in history. Kohli celebrated in style, channeling his inner Cristiano Ronaldo with a signature ‘Siuuu�?on the field.

Star performances power India to win

Given the chance to bat first after New Zealand opted to bowl, India posted a total of 249/9 in 50 overs. Shreyas Iyer secured the first inning with a gritty 79 off 92 balls, with Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel chipping in a steady 45 and 42, respectively. Their teamwork held India stable after early wicket losses to New Zealand’s tough bowlers, led by Matt Henry.

However, Chakravarthy’s grit with the ball turned the match in India’s favour.  The ‘mystery spinner�?rattled the Black Caps batters with his debut 5/42, which also blocked them at 205. His fifer marked India’s third off the tournament.

Indian team captain Rohit Sharma shared admiration for the reserve. 'He has something different about him. There’s no doubt about it,�?he said. Initially a reserve for the Champions Trophy, Chakravarthy was later added to the main team, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.

NZ struggles with the bat

The Black Caps�?chase started shaky after losing wickets early. Pandya’s sharp bowls quickly dismissed Rachin Ravindra after posting a 17/1 play. Despite grabbing a brave 39 from Glenn Phillips and 32 from all-rounder Mitchell Santner, the team were reduced to 165/6 in 40 overs.

During the 41st over, Axar Patel stumped off the Black Caps�?Kane Williamson, ending the team's hopes. India’s pace attack was to blame. Led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Even Henry’s all-round play was not able to save them. The Black Caps were bowled out for 205/10 in 45.3 overs.

India to face Australia in the semifinals

After their victory against the Black Caps, the Men in Blue are set to face Australia in the semifinals on Tuesday, March 04, in Dubai. It’s a much-awaited game after India lost to Australia during the 2023 ICC World Cup finals.

Australia is known for their aggressive plays, which could be a challenge for India. However, with Chakravarthy on the rise and star players Kohli, Iyer, and Sharma leading the bat, India might stand a chance. 

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Australia has performed well in the 2025 Champions Trophy, despite a hectic travel schedule. They had to go from Pakistan to Dubai as they felt India would take down New Zealand to set up a semi-final matchup. 

Now, the Aussies are preparing for a big-time date against India, one of the best teams in the world. The travel might be an obstacle, but it will be a difficult match against India given the stakes.

Australia has endured a hectic schedule

Every time a team is preparing for a big match, they love scouting the opponents and finding out their weaknesses. That has been the case for Australia as they are working their way to create the best strategy and team possible against India. The schedule has been hectic with constant travel and jumping straight into training, but that could work out.

Aussie spin star Adam Zampa has spoken about what it has been like with the schedule over the past few days. 

He said, ‘And reflecting back now, firstly that win against England probably set up giving the rain that came, and then half innings against Afghanistan. There’s probably not a bad preparation here. Our preparation’s been OK. I think with these tournaments, you don’t play a lot of games anyway, so they’re pretty cutthroat�?

Considering that India will be one of the toughest countries to play against, the Aussies are doing well with how they have circled the date with this matchup. Zampa himself knows he’s not performing to his usual level, so bouncing back against India could be the key to helping the team win the semi-final match.

South Africa or New Zealand await in the Final

The Champions Trophy final will be held on March 9, 2025, between the winners of the two semi-final series. India and Australia duke it out in the first match, while South Africa and New Zealand represent the other side of the Champions Trophy field. 

It will be a fantastic series again, considering South Africa and New Zealand are both stellar teams. Looking ahead, a win for Australia will mean they must travel again, as the final is to be played in Lahore, Pakistan. They are in the United Arab Emirates for the match against India, so travelling is their reward for the potential final matchup.

The Champions Trophy has been eventful so far with good performances across the board, but this matchup between Australia and India might take the cake as the best Champions Trophy game. It will be a fun match filled with superstar players on both sides for cricket supremacy.

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Pakistan is out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, and fans are upset. The team lost to India by six wickets. They needed Bangladesh to beat New Zealand to stay in the tournament but the team failed to reach their goal. Because of the results, Pakistan was eliminated in the competition.

Former players want huge changes. Ex-captain Wasim Akram said the team has not improved. He blamed the local cricket scene for not producing quality players. Rashid Latif also said too many changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management hurt the team. 

Pakistan has struggled for a long time. They failed in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup after losing to India, and the T20 World Cup last year. They also finished last in the World Test Championship. Fans are tired of the losses, and many believe Pakistan cricket is getting worse.

Experts say Pakistan cricket is weak because of bad pitches, poor coaching, and frequent board changes. They believe the PCB has no clear plan, leading to bad team selection and coaching problems.

Injuries and poor team choices

Shahid Afridi criticised the team’s old-fashioned style. He said they still play like it’s the 1980s. He wants a fresh start so Pakistan can play with more aggression.

Injuries also strained the team. Saim Ayub injured his ankle, so the team delayed picking the final squad. Fakhar Zaman got injured after the first match. He was replaced by Imam-ul-Haq, who only scored 10 runs against India.

Pakistan’s fast bowlers were also a problem. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf were rested before the tournament to keep them fresh. They looked unprepared and could not stop runs in key moments.

Selection choices were also questioned. Pakistan picked Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf because of their performances in Bangladesh’s T20 league. 

Fans voice concerns: Is Pakistan cricket in crisis?

Fans were upset after the loss to India. A cafe owner in Karachi shared that many people turned off the TV because they didn’t want to see the defeat. A chef in Islamabad said the team had a 'loser’s mindset' and did not try to fight back. Some fans even left the stadium early, and declined to watch more.

Fans think Pakistan cricket needs huge changes. They want better team selection, coaching, and a modern playing style. Others say the team lacks discipline and a winning mentality. Some believe Pakistan needs a strong leader, like Virat Kohli or Ben Stokes, who can inspire the team and change their approach.

Pakistan cricket is at a crossroads. Without major changes, they will keep falling behind top teams. The Champions Trophy exit is a clear signal that a new strategy is needed to turn things around.

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